clayton eewin



(No Model.)

L. G. ERWIN.

HARNESS.

No. 369,282. Patented Aug. 30', 1887.

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NITED STATES Pnrnn'r ,rricn.

L. CLAYTON ERYVIN, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES P. YOUNG AND JOHN H. THOMAS, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,282, dated August 30, 1887.

Application filed June 30, 1887.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, L. CLAYTON ERWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain novel im provements in combined horse-detachers and shaft-loops, which improvements will be fully understood from the following description and claims, taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved device as it appears when clasped upon a vehicle-shaft. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken centrally through the device when clasped upon a vehicle-shaft. Fig. 3 is a side view 0f the same parts, showing the same unclasped and in a condition to free themselves from the shafts. Fig. isa side view of the flanged sliding collar which receives through it the shaft.

Referring to the annexed drawings by letter, A. designates one of the shafts or thills of a vehicle.

I will here remark that my improved safety unhitching device will in practice be applied to each one of the vehicle-shafts, which latter may be made in the usual manner.

On the shaft A, at a suitable place, are coiled springs l1 b,which are confined between collars a a, or their equivalents, rigidly secured to said shaft and the ends of a cylindrical flanged collar, l-Lwhich is allowed to slide endwise on the shaft, restrained only by the coiled springs I) b.

C designates a clasp, parts of which are adapted to embrace the collar H, between the flanges th ercof, as shown in Fig. 2. This clasp consists, essentially, of two parts hinged to gethcr at f. One partis composed of the semicircular embracing portion c having a loop, 0, for the attachment of the belly-band strap. From this part rises vertically a tongue, 0, flanged at h h, and having formed on its upper end a loop, 0, for the attachment of the backhand strap. The face of this tongue 0 is preferably depressed, and in this depression is secured a spring, 8, for a PTTIPOSG hereinafter explained. I also form on this tongue 0 two Serial No. 243,006. (No model.)

horizontal branches, G G, having loops on their ends, to one of which is secured a hame-strap,

J, and to the other a holdback-strap, J. The other part, 0, of said clasp consists of a semicircular portion having a tongue-extension, 0 adapted to lie snugly between the flanges h It on the edges of the tongue 0, and to be braced by these flanges when the clasp is locked, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2-. Between the two flanges h h, and secured at one end in a recess formed in the tongue 0, is a spring, 8, the free end of which will press outwardly against the tongue 0 when this tongue and a locking-slide,

D, are in the positions indicated in full lines, 6 Figs. 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings.

D designates a lockingslide consisting of a horizontal embracingloop, c, and a vertical tongue, 0. This device D is designed to slide on the tongues c O of the clasp and to securely 0 hold them together and prevent a casual detachment of the clasp from the sliding collar H on the shaft A. Figs. 1 and 8 show the locking-slide D embracing and holding the tongues together, and Fig. 2 shows the said slide D raised free from the tongue C- of the hinged part 0 of the clasp. The slide D is then raised by means of a pull-cord, E, which may pass through a pulleycye, ,7, fixed to the face of the tongue 0 near its upper end, and is carried back and fastened in a convenient position to be manipulated by the driver in the Vehicle.

Should it become necessary to quickly unhitch the horse from the vehicle in case of ac- 8 cident, the driver pulls on the cord E and raises the locking-slide D free from the tongue C", simultaneously with which the springs will throw off laterally this tongue and allow the clasp to free itself from the collar H on the 0 shaft A.

It will be observed that the collar H is located between two springs on the shaft, thereby allowing a free elastic action of draft and backward thrustto said slide, and preventing undue shocks and concussion to the horse and vehicle. It will also be observed that by my invention I provide a cheap and cfficient device whereby the use of singletrees and traces are obviated entirely, and which allows the :00 animal to be quickly detached from thevehicle should it become unmanageable.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the vehicle-shaft, the flanged collar H on the same, the springs b, arranged on each side of the collar, the hinged clasp G, embracing the collar, the two hinged portions of the said clasp being provided, respectively, with tongues C and c, the lockingslide D, embracing the tongues of the clasp, and the operating-cord E, attached to the said locking-slide, substantially as described.

2. In a horse-detacher, the combination of a hinged clasp consisting of the semicircular portions hinged together and provided, re- :5 spectively, with a long and short tongue, the loops G G 0 and flanges h h on the tongue 0, the flanged collar H, adapted to be received loosely on an angle between springs, the spring 8 on tongue 0, and a locking-slide, D, adapted 20 to retain the clasp closed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses. L. CLAYTON ERXVIN. Witnesses:

C. E. GARTMAN, \VM. BEITZEL. 

